With bands today trying to expand across multiple genres, few are able to actually do it well. You mostly end up with bands whose sound is as confusing as the types of music they try and combine. The Panic Division is NOT one of those bands. They would more than likely be hurt by removing their secondary electronic sound. The band wanted to create a sound that paid homage to the bands that influenced them, such as Aphex Twins, DJ Shadow, and Snapcase, and they do a pretty damn good job, if you ask me.
This album is so refreshing to listen to. It brings something new to the listener, but isn't so abstract and strange that it turns people off. This is the kind of album you can pop in and enjoy right from the opening track, Versus. It's the perfect way to introduce you to the bands sound. Nothing ever seems out of place. The keyboards and electronic loops seem to mesh perfectly with the pace, volume, and structure of the songs.
While the music is fantastic, and what will probably get the most attention, the singing can't be ignored, and really pushes this album over the top. Vocalist/guitarist Colton Holliday would be able to go toe to toe with any of the top 40 singers out there today.
This album is one of those things that will simply take you to another place. You can't help but feel good when you hear it. Just as soft and bright as it is loud and dark, this is with no question one of the best albums released in 2005, and is worth at the very least one listen through.
